Behind the scenes

The use of mistletoe berries as an ingredient in the Antidote to Common Poisons is ironic: the non-berry parts of the mistletoe plant are extremely poisonous, causing intense stomach pain,[3] diarrhea,[3] low pulse,[3] visual disturbances,[4] and convulsions[4] if eaten. However, the berries are considered "relatively non-toxic" if only a small amount are ingested, but can cause stomach upset when eaten in larger quantities.[4]